For once, Kilroy-Silk stays silent

Robert Kilroy-Silk arrived at the count in the Erewash constituency between Nottingham and Derby just before 1.30am hoping to capitalise on his success last year in winning the East Midlands European seat for Ukip.

But he has fallen out with Ukip and is now boss of the fledgling Veritas party. The truth was that the omens were not good, his chances probably snookered by the presence of the BNP and Ukip.

"How's it going Mr Kilroy-Silk?"

"Where are you from?"

"The Guardian."

At this point, the candidate with the purple rosette on his smart suit walked away without saying a word, preferring to do an interview for Sky. Mentions of him on the BBC's election coverage, especially a passing reference to an "odd curiosity", had prompted ironic cheers in the bar of the West Park sports centre in Long Eaton where the count looked likely to go on till dawn. There were more ironic cheers when a reporter said he had brought "glamour and glitz" to the election.

Previously Mr Kilroy-Silk, who had the advantage of appearing on television with his roving mike almost every day for 18 years, had seemed relaxed about his poll prospects.

"The political scientists say [Erewash] is a safe Labour seat," he said. "But we will have to wait and see."

Not that safe: Elizabeth Blackman had a majority of just under 7,000 in 2001 but faced a tough challenge from the Conservative, David Simmonds. Victory would make him the youngest Tory in the Commons. He could also be the shortest.

Other serious candidates included a Lib Dem (the party picked up 11% of the vote last time). The less serious candidates included RU Seerius of the Monster Raving Loony party, who headed a phalanx of supporters decked out like 21st-century morris dancers with beards, badges and bells.

David Bishop, of the Church of the Militant Elvis party, was not present at the early stages of the count. "He's in the pub, too frightened to come out," said his lone supporter, the broadcaster Ray Gosling. "We are hoping for double figures."